An unresolved rules issue at the club

The golf ball lies on a path that runs between two adjacent penalty areas on the right and left, but the path itself is excluded from the penalty area. If I don't want to play the ball as it lies, and the nearest point for relief would be in the penalty area, then I have to drop the ball much further back, in line with the green, before the start of the path.

Is this penalty-free because I can't drop into a penalty area for relief or do I get a penalty stroke because I don't drop at the nearest point but further back?

X = position of the ball

In principle, according to Rule 16.1, this circumstance (path) entitles you to relief without penalty.

It is correct, as you have already stated: in this case, the nearest point would be in the penalty area, but you are not allowed to drop the ball in the penalty area

Now it is a matter of determining the closest point to the position of the ball and this is to the left of the "corner" outside the penalty area, seen in the direction of play, and not at the back before the start of the path (this point is not the closest point to the position of the ball).

Of course, it is also possible to play the ball from where it came to rest.


In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the rules of golf, please contact me directly at hans.kienesberger@golf.at.